A body begins to decompose almost immediately after death, with visible changes starting within hours. Typically, a body buried within a coffin begins tissue breakdown within a year and can take up to a decade or more to fully decompose down to skeletonization, where only bones remain. Without a coffin, decomposition happens faster, with skeletonization occurring within about five years. Complete dissolution of the skeleton in soil can take around 20 years but in some conditions, bones can persist for hundreds of years or even fossilize. The rate depends on factors such as temperature, burial environment, presence of insects, soil conditions, and protection from elements.
Decomposition Stages and Timing
- Autolysis (self-digestion) begins within minutes to hours after death.
- Bloating with gas and skin discoloration occurs within days.
- Active decay and soft tissue liquefaction take weeks to months.
- Skeletonization usually occurs within years (often 5-10 years) after burial.
- Final bone degradation ranges from decades to centuries.
Environmental Factors
- Warm environments accelerate decomposition.
- Coffins and embalming slow the process.
- Water immersion slows or alters decomposition depending on temperature.
- Soil acidity and moisture affect bone breakdown.
This makes the timeframe for human body decomposition highly variable, but a general guideline is from weeks for initial decay to several years or decades for complete skeletonization and beyond for final bone degradation.
